Fifteen years, thousands of creators, and countless stories later — India Film Project (IFP) is returning this November with a milestone edition that promises to celebrate creativity in all its glory. What began as a small idea has now evolved into the world’s leading festival for everything ‘Creativity x Culture’, bringing together art, ideas, and imagination in the most vibrant ways.

The much-loved festival will return to Mehboob Studios on November 29 and 30, for a two-day celebration filled with performances, workshops, conversations, and creative showcases.

Marking its 15th anniversary this year, IFP is going all out to make Season 15 its grandest edition yet, honouring years of storytelling, collaboration, and a thriving creative community. At the heart of the festival are its iconic 50 Hour Creative Challenges, which continue to define IFP’s spirit of innovation and artistic exploration. This year’s edition witnessed an overwhelming response across six categories — Filmmaking, Music, Design, Photography, Writing, and Performing Arts, drawing over 40,000 participants from 350 cities and 23 countries.

Adding to the excitement, this season’s jury features some of India’s most acclaimed names across cinema, design, and the arts, including Dibakar Banerjee, Hariharan (Padma Shri Awardee), Sheeba Chaddha, Bilal Siddiqi, Santhy Balachandran, Ravi Jadhav, Kanu Behl, Mukesh Chhabra, and Gajesh Mitkari, among others.

Reflecting on IFP’s journey, Ritam Bhatnagar, Founder of IFP, said, “What began as a small dormitory idea shared among a few passionate creators has now grown into one of the world’s leading celebrations of creativity and culture. Fifteen years later, IFP continues to be that space where creative people come together, experiment, and grow. This milestone year is our way of celebrating that journey — from one tiny idea to a global festival that inspires millions to create, share, and dream bigger every year.”

National Award-winning filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee, a member of this year’s Filmmaking Jury, shared, “Storytelling has always been about curiosity, and IFP thrives on that. As a filmmaker, I’ve always believed that cinema must surprise you. Fifteen years in, IFP is continuing the good work in promoting curiosity. That’s what makes it so special. Loving being a jury this year.”

Echoing similar sentiments, versatile actor Sheeba Chaddha, who joins as a member of the Performing Arts Jury, added, “There’s something truly joyful about IFP, and it’s always a pleasure to associate with the team, this time as a jury member. What I love the most about this festival is how it empowers artists to express and evolve without limits. As an actor, I’m drawn to spaces that let artists nurture their craft without fear or formula, and IFP has built that beautifully over the years. I’m excited to see what this milestone edition brings to the table.”

Over the past 14 years, IFP has hosted more than 1,400 speakers, 1.2 lakh participants, and representation from eight countries, establishing itself among the world’s largest creative festivals. Its illustrious guest list from previous editions includes global icons like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Schulman, Alexander Payne, Asif Kapadia, Mira Nair, Ira Glass, and Indian luminaries such as Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Javed Akhtar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Shabana Azmi, Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, Kartik Aaryan, and many more.

This year’s edition promises a dynamic lineup of thought-provoking discussions, immersive experiences, and memorable performances making it a must-attend weekend for every creative enthusiast.

So, mark your calendars for November 29 and 30, and be part of Season 15 of IFP where creativity, culture, and imagination come alive once again.